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Been thinking about the ‘value’ of paying for Metal again, I downgraded a couple of months ago following the changes, but miss the doubling up opportunities. If I go for it, I am paying £180/year and could quite easily put £3k/month in Fronted and £1k/month in UK ATM withdrawals (charged to a earning underlying card) so worst case, 48k avios/year = £0.004 per Avios.
Think it makes sense?
What would you do with the ATM cash? I’ve been wondering the same and a bit concerned that depositing £1k/month back into a bank account might look suspicious, and spending it defeats the purpose if the spend would otherwise be on a credit card. Plus there’s the hassle of three separate ATM transactions a month due to the £400 limit per withdrawal
My Curve ATM limit is much higher than £400. And I would use the cash to pay off some other bills, like energy, groceries, cleaner, etc.
Also – suspicious or not, you’re don’t doing anything wrong here, so should a bank/tax man get suspicious, every single transaction is recorded so its pretty simple to answer the question if asked.
Been thinking about the ‘value’ of paying for Metal again, I downgraded a couple of months ago following the changes, but miss the doubling up opportunities. If I go for it, I am paying £180/year and could quite easily put £3k/month in Fronted and £1k/month in UK ATM withdrawals (charged to a earning underlying card) so worst case, 48k avios/year = £0.004 per Avios.
Think it makes sense?
Worst case means you are £12 up for the effort/admin of fronted and ATM withdrawals. I wouldn’t bother for that.
How so? If I miss the 30 day timings for ATM withdrawal?
48000 x £0.004 = £192
You’re basically earning back your annual £180 curve fee. Unless you are definitely going to gain other benefits it seems rather pointless for almost no financial gain. But it’s your time and money so go for it if it suits you.
Been thinking about the ‘value’ of paying for Metal again, I downgraded a couple of months ago following the changes, but miss the doubling up opportunities. If I go for it, I am paying £180/year and could quite easily put £3k/month in Fronted and £1k/month in UK ATM withdrawals (charged to a earning underlying card) so worst case, 48k avios/year = £0.004 per Avios.
Think it makes sense?
Worst case means you are £12 up for the effort/admin of fronted and ATM withdrawals. I wouldn’t bother for that.
How so? If I miss the 30 day timings for ATM withdrawal?
48000 x £0.004 = £192
You’re basically earning back your annual £180 curve fee. Unless you are definitely going to gain other benefits it seems rather pointless for almost no financial gain. But it’s your time and money so go for it if it suits you.
Am I missing something here?
Where else can you buy Avios for 0.4p?Been thinking about the ‘value’ of paying for Metal again, I downgraded a couple of months ago following the changes, but miss the doubling up opportunities. If I go for it, I am paying £180/year and could quite easily put £3k/month in Fronted and £1k/month in UK ATM withdrawals (charged to a earning underlying card) so worst case, 48k avios/year = £0.004 per Avios.
Think it makes sense?
Worst case means you are £12 up for the effort/admin of fronted and ATM withdrawals. I wouldn’t bother for that.
How so? If I miss the 30 day timings for ATM withdrawal?
48000 x £0.004 = £192
You’re basically earning back your annual £180 curve fee. Unless you are definitely going to gain other benefits it seems rather pointless for almost no financial gain. But it’s your time and money so go for it if it suits you.
Surely, the avios earned are worth more than 0.4p?
If you value an avios at 1p, then is it not £480 value for £180 spend?
Of course it depends on the value of Avios. Rob-london stated 0.4p hence £192.
I think people are over complicating the maths. If you can use the full fronted allowance and have a 1.5 Avios earning card, that’s 54,000 Avios/year for paying tax in my case, on which I would otherwise earn 0 Avios. I don’t do ATM withdrawals as I have no use for meaningful amounts of cash. However I do use the unlimited free FX (OK, subject to fair use) a lot for travelling and buying at auctions abroad while earning points on my underlying card rather than using a non points earning FX free card. For £180/year that’s OK.
Of course it depends on the value of Avios. Rob-london stated 0.4p hence £192.
Correct. The effective £0.004/avios ‘cost’ is what I am paying to collect the points. At point of ‘spend’ I am achieving around £0.01/avios through premium receptions and 2-4-1’s. So assuming all being equal, the ROI of doing this (assuming I hit the max each month) is about £300.
Lots of assumptions here though – not sure its worth the effort!!
Of course it depends on the value of Avios. Rob-london stated 0.4p hence £192.
Correct. The effective £0.004/avios ‘cost’ is what I am paying to collect the points. At point of ‘spend’ I am achieving around £0.01/avios through premium receptions and 2-4-1’s. So assuming all being equal, the ROI of doing this (assuming I hit the max each month) is about £300.
Lots of assumptions here though – not sure its worth the effort!!
I find myself with the same dilemma.
I have ran the numbers as you have above, but in my case it’s HH points that I am the beneficiary of.
Since the insurance element of the card was dropped, on top of the fee increase, and Curve Fronted limit reduction I am finding it harder and harder to justify renewing.
The only saving grace for me at the minute is that I travel abroad quite a lot, and all FX spend, hotel bills, cash withdrawals etc go on the card on top of what you have outlined above.Still, it is fast getting to be a chore for less and less of a return.
When you factor in the appalling customer service I can’t see how the Curve card going forward is sustainable, there is a lot more competition now for my “loyalty”, and Curve has become a lot less competitive.
And some of the alternatives are all a lot less hassle.In the same saga, requested a downgrade a few days ago, only to be told to speak to live chat
who replied days later only to ask me to confirm DOB and address, something which could have been validated at the time I clicked downgrade..Chased them again on chat to get it downgraded againPoor service by Curve.. needless to say I have froze the card and the underlining card
They have the audacity to send me a missed payment reminder, no I dont want metal for £17.99 p/mI’m thinking the same… the value prop with the latest changes has been eroded so much that what was before a very simple decision is now much tougher. I did use some of the other features like car hire insurance and the higher fronted limits, but recent changes are a material reduction of benefits without a drop in fees. The support continues to be dire too.
Will likely sit this one out and see if they roll back some of these. A real pity, as I used to love Curve and used it as my primary spending vehicle at home and across the world.
Curve has lost its mojo for being the all in one card. With apple pay and the wallet feature theres no need for it. Bye bye USP
I am in the same boat, requested to cancel the card, got asked DOB etc. Now 11 days on still no reply. What is the best next step, should I just remove all cards – will they still charge me?
Many ThanksI am in the same boat, requested to cancel the card, got asked DOB etc. Now 11 days on still no reply. What is the best next step, should I just remove all cards – will they still charge me?
Many Thanksfreeze your curve card, freeze your underlining card, remove any other cards on your wallet, ignore any emails and you will be successfully downgraded as to be honest they wont even check your support ticket, they will however realise they cant charge you and will downgrade you accordingly. show no mercy
Ok call me mad, but with the Santander all in one card being butchered, I’m considering reupgrading to metal.
Several large expenses are coming up in USD. I’m thinking I’m better paying for curve for a few months (with the costs covered by fronted) to get a decent number of avios.
Ok call me mad, but with the Santander all in one card being butchered, I’m considering reupgrading to metal.
Several large expenses are coming up in USD. I’m thinking I’m better paying for curve for a few months (with the costs covered by fronted) to get a decent number of avios.
Just be aware that there is a minumum commitment with curve.
Been thinking about the ‘value’ of paying for Metal again, I downgraded a couple of months ago following the changes, but miss the doubling up opportunities. If I go for it, I am paying £180/year and could quite easily put £3k/month in Fronted and £1k/month in UK ATM withdrawals (charged to a earning underlying card) so worst case, 48k avios/year = £0.004 per Avios.
Think it makes sense?
What would you do with the ATM cash? I’ve been wondering the same and a bit concerned that depositing £1k/month back into a bank account might look suspicious, and spending it defeats the purpose if the spend would otherwise be on a credit card. Plus there’s the hassle of three separate ATM transactions a month due to the £400 limit per withdrawal
My Curve ATM limit is much higher than £400. And I would use the cash to pay off some other bills, like energy, groceries, cleaner, etc.
Also – suspicious or not, you’re don’t doing anything wrong here, so should a bank/tax man get suspicious, every single transaction is recorded so its pretty simple to answer the question if asked.
The £400 limit was based on what a Sainsbury’s ATM let me withdraw recently – I guess that was specific to the ATM rather than the curve card, which I now see has a higher limit.
If you’re using the cash on groceries, bills etc, isn’t it a false economy as you’re missing out on card spend? Accepted that it works if the cleaner only accepts cash.
I couldn’t find when my renewal was due, and see I’ve just paid for another year of Metal. Oh well, I’m sure it still works out for me just based on the Fronted spend per month.
Ok call me mad, but with the Santander all in one card being butchered, I’m considering reupgrading to metal.
Several large expenses are coming up in USD. I’m thinking I’m better paying for curve for a few months (with the costs covered by fronted) to get a decent number of avios.
Just be aware that there is a minumum commitment with curve.
Yeah. Main thing holding me back. But 4500 avios for £18 per month isn’t bad, on top of the fx savings. I rage quit after the insurance changes but regretting it a bit.
Has anyone been able to ascertain yet (if so I haven’t read it), whether the 30 day rolling £1,000 FX ATM limit for Curve Metal, is in ADDITION to the £1,000 DOMESTIC ATM limit? Or is is £1,000 in total?
Definitely separate for Curve Black, so I assume Metal is the same.
Definitely separate for Curve Black, so I assume Metal is the same.
Thank you – have a few tips to hand out on a cruise next week so that’ll do nicely 👍
Thank you – have a few tips to hand out on a cruise next week so that’ll do nicely 👍
I trust that one of those tips doesn’t involve non-Curve users applying a card!
Thank you – have a few tips to hand out on a cruise next week so that’ll do nicely 👍
I trust that one of those tips doesn’t involve non-Curve users applying a card!
I’m afraid that went right over the top of my head 🤔
I trust that one of those tips doesn’t involve non-Curve users applying a card!
I’m afraid that went right over the top of my head 🤔
noun: tip; plural noun: tips
1. a sum of money given to someone as a reward for a service.
2. a small but useful piece of practical advice.
Thank you – have a few tips to hand out on a cruise next week so that’ll do nicely 👍
I trust that one of those tips doesn’t involve non-Curve users applying a card!
I’m afraid that went right over the top of my head 🤔
Okay, let me put it another way…The tips that you plan to hand out on your cruise clearly involves Curve and since last year any good tips I could offer anyone wouldn’t involve going anywhere near Curve, unless they already had an association with it.
Ahh, right, slow train coming…
… especially on a Friday night 🙂
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